Rod Plants a Seed of Hope

Rod Plants a Seed of Hope

Article excerpt

A Teesside aid worker is gearing up to deliver nine tonnes of vegetable seeds to help feed impoverished families in Romania.

The delivery is part of the latest mercy mission to the East European country by Stockton-based charity Convoy Aid, run by Rod Jones and his wife Gabriela.

The seeds will help families in the North-east of the rural country grow an array of vegetables to feed themselves. Rod came up with the seed idea after witnessing the limited diet of families while on trips there with Convoy Aid.

"Entire families live off just maize and cornflower, that's all they ever eat - for breakfast, dinner and tea," he said. "They just can't afford to buy other vegetable seeds. This time we will ensure everybody gets a large selection of vegetables and can then preserve them after growing."

Convoy Aid got the seeds by asking 400 North-east schools to approach seed companies across the UK. The response was staggering.

Rod said supermarket chains like Asda also came to their aid, and Somerfield donated 3,000 Dinky toys for Romanian youngsters. …